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No. 608,330. Patented Aug. 2, |898.

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2.?. Sm! M s UNITED-v .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN J. HICKS, oF FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,330, dated August2, 1898.

` application filed March 9, 1898. Serial No. 673,195, (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. HICKS, a citizen vof the United States,residing at Falls City, in the county of Richardson and State ofNebraska, have invented a new and useful Gate, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates. to improvements in gates. z

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofswinging gates and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive oneadaptedto be readily opened without walking more than ,afew steps andcapable of being adjusted vertically to clear snow-drifts and to afforda passage for small animals.y

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate which may bereadily tilted to enable it to be readily passed over obstructions.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a gate constructed inaccordance with this invention, the gate being in its lowermostposition. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the gateand the swinging frame or hanger, the former being elevated. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view illustrating .the manner of mounting-the gate onthe hanger. Fig. 4 is a detail view.illustratingl the construction ofthe latch.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

l designates a substantially triangular.

swinging frame or hanger consisting of avertical pintle-bar 2, ahorizontal top bar 3, and

an inclined brace 4, extending from the lower,

pintle arranged in a bearing-opening'of an arm 5, extending horizontallyfrom the top of `a post 6.

The swinging frame or hanger is provided at the outer end of thehorizontal bar 3 with a vertical perforation 7 receiving averticallyadjustable rod 8,whicl1 is connected with and adapted tosupport a gate 9. The gate 9,which may be constructed in any suitablemanner, is preferably composed of vertical bars and horizontal bars orrails, and it is provided between its ends with intermediate barsl0,with

'washer 13, which is interposed between the coupling and the gate, andthe outer portion of the horizontal pivot 12, which may be eithertubular or solid, is threaded to receive a nut 14, a disk or washer 15being interposed between the nut and the gate, as clearly illustrated inFig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

The upper face or edge of the'horizontal bar 3 of the hanger is,reinforced by a plate 1b', and the vertical rod 8, which is arrangedparallel with the adjacent bar lOof the gate, is supported at its lowerend by a block 17, secured to the gate and interposed between the sameand the rod, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Y

The gate, which is adapted to tilt on the horizontal pivot, is alsocapable of swinging on the vertical rod 8 to bring it at either side ofthe swinging frame or hanger, as will be readily understood, and it issecured at any 'desired vertical adjustment by a pawl or dog V18,pivotally mounted on the frame or hanger l at the upper edge of the bar3 and adapted to engage any one of a series of annular grooves orshoulders 19, formed at intervals in the rod 8. The annular shoulders orgrooves permit the rod to be partially rotated on the hanger or framewithout disengaging the pawl 18. When the gate is elevated, it isadapted to swing clearof snow-drifts and other ob- IOO `structions, andit will then afford a passage for small animals. I

In opening the gate it may be swung on the pivots or pintles of theswinging frame or hanger l similar to an ordinary gate, or it may bepartially opened by swinging it on the vertical rod 8, the former modeof operation being employed when it is desired to provide a passage fora team or machine and the latter being adapted to afford a passage-wayfor a person on foot oren horseback. In swinging the gate upon the rod Sit maybe opened and closed without moving more than a few steps to loel;and unlock it.

rl`he swinging frame or hanger is provided at opposite sides with a pairof bracket-s 20, consisting of plates secured to opposite sides of thebar 2 and provided with upwardly-extending L-shaped arms adapted toreceive and hold a horizontal bar or rail of the gate and secure thelatter to the hanger. rlhe outer end of the gate is secured to alatchpost 2l by a pair of pivoted latches and a horizontalsupporting-piece 23. 'lhe suplrorting-piece 225, which is secured to thelatchbar in a recess thereof, projects from opposite sides of the sameand has upper inclined edges to direct the gate into engagement with thelatches. The latches, which are located above the horizontalsupporting-piece 23, are pivotally mounted on the ends of a horizontalrod El and extend above the saine, being supported in an inclinedposition by lugs or flanges 25, extending from the upper end of thelatches and arranged to engage the upper edge of the rod 2t. The latchesare maintained normally in an inclined position, as clearly shown inFig. l of the accompanying drawings, and are adapted to permit the gateto pass them readily in latehing it.

The invention has the following advantages: The gate, which is simpleand com paratively inexpensive in construction, is adapted to be readilyoperated to open and close it, and it is capable of swinging on thepintle of the frame or hanger and on the rod at the outer end thereof.It is also adapted to be tilted on the horizontal pivit or pintle at theupper end of the vertical rod, and it is eapable of vertical adjustmentto enable it to swing clear of obstructions and te afford a passage forsmall animals.

Changes in the form,proportion, andminor details of construct-ion may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

l. The combination of a swinging` frame or hanger provided at its outerend with a vertical opening, a gate, a vertically-adjnstable rodarranged in the opening of the hanger, disposed parallel with the gateand provided with a horizontal pivot or pintle supporting the gate andpermitting the same to tilt on it, a block mounted on the gate andinterposed between it and the lower end of the rod, and means forsecuring the rod at the desired adjustment, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a swinging frame or hanger, a gate, a pawl or dogmounted on the swinging frame or hanger, and a verticallyadjustable rodjournaled on the swinging frame or hanger and provided with a horizontalpivot receiving and supporting the gate, said rod being provided atintervals with annular shoulders adapted to be engaged by the pawl ordog, whereby the rod may be partially rotated without disengaging thepawl er dog, substantially as described.

3. The combination ot a swinging frame or hanger, a gate, avertically-adjustable rod mounted on the swinging frame or hanger, anL-sliaped coupling connected with the upper end of the rod, a horizontalpivot or pintle extending from the coupling and receiving the gate, afastening device mounted on the outer end of the horizontal rod or pivotand retaining the gate thereon, a block mounted on the gateandinterposed between the same and the lower end of the rod, and a dogcarried by the frame or hanger and engaging the rod to support the gateat the desired elevation, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ED\VIN J. HICKS.

Vitnesses:

A. GRAHAM, E. A. MAUs'r.

